In the decisive Game 3, Warriors Gaming Squad repeated the success of Game 1. They jumped out to a huge lead and anytime Blazer5 got it back within striking distance, Warriors Gaming Squad would hit a clutch shot to balloon the lead back up.

Blazer 5, which has finished atop the regular-season standings in each of the past two seasons has hit a rough patch like they have never seen before.

Granted, this season's win-loss standards are much different, this is the still the worst record Blazer5 Gaming has ever had.

They have never lost three games in an entire season. let alone in the first seven matches.

To make matters worse, after a 4-0 start, Blazer5 has dropped three in a row.

Blazer5 revamped in the off-season to improve the team's offense, giving them one of the best offensive attacks they have ever had. However, it may have come at the expense of their defense.

Over this losing streak, Blazer5 has struggled to get stops and had trouble on the glass. Two things that are normally easy for this squad.

If ever there were a team better than their 4-3 record, it's Blazer5 Gaming. Can they bounce back?

We'll find out on Tuesday, June 10th, when they take on the Gen.G Tigers.

Nasser scored another 13 points in the second quarter, and by the end of third quarter he had 71 points.

With one quarter left to play, Nasser was just 14 points away from breaking the single-game NBA 2K League scoring record. To make it more impressive, the record 84 points were scored in a double-overtime game, and Nasser was about to do it in regulation.

But Bucks Gaming decided to game the game, and prevent Nasser from setting the record.

The Bucks began to hold the ball, not trying to score at all, opting instead to willingly take shot clock violations. In doing so they limited the number of possessions Blazer5 had down the stretch, thus hurting Nassers chances of breaking the record. The tactics didn't sit well with fans or players around the 2K League.

Bucks losing by 40+, taking shot clock violations and calling timeouts. I get they don't want @MamaImDatMan_ breaking the record on them, but you can't go making a mockery of the league in the process. Bush league.

Y’all really stole that moment from @MamaImDatMan_ but what’s more disgraceful is how an entire team full of “professionals” just give up on live TV. Holding the ball for 24 seconds and calling timeouts. Bunch of children that can’t take a loss. That was pathetic on ALL levels.

Nasser scored another 13 points in the second quarter, and by the end of third quarter he had 71 points.

Sitting on 71, Nasser was just 14 points away from breaking the single-game NBA 2K League scoring record. To make it more impressive, the record 84 points were scored in a double-overtime game, and he was about to do it in regulation.

But Bucks Gaming decided to game the game, and prevent Nasser from setting the record.

The Bucks began to hold the ball, not trying to score at all, opting instead to willingly take shot clock violations. In doing so they limited the number of possessions Blazer5 had down the stretch, thus hurting Nassers chanced of breaking the record. The tactics didn't sit well with fans or players around the 2K League.

Bucks losing by 40+, taking shot clock violations and calling timeouts. I get they don't want @MamaImDatMan_ breaking the record on them, but you can't go making a mockery of the league in the process. Bush league.

Y’all really stole that moment from @MamaImDatMan_ but what’s more disgraceful is how an entire team full of “professionals” just give up on live TV. Holding the ball for 24 seconds and calling timeouts. Bunch of children that can’t take a loss. That was pathetic on ALL levels.

POINT 3's apparel is specifically designed to absorb sweat and keep athletes dry, something that comes in handy in eSports. The last thing a gamer wants is sweaty palms, and POINT 3 can help address the matter.

Said Nasser in an interview with ESPN, "There's moments throughout the game where your hand just becomes so moist, because you're gripping on the controller so hard, you don't realize it... The grip you have on your controller allows you to make those quicker reflexes. It's so hard to explain, but that's the biggest difference. It's kind of like a gaming edge."

Says CEO Michael Luscher: "With his focus on world-class performance, dedication to his craft and an obvious love of the game, Nidal is the ideal ambassador to extend the reach of DRYV to gamers." pic.twitter.com/OWc8ztKhBq

The move is big for not only Nasser, but for the NBA 2K League as a whole. It could provide the framework for other players to seek solo deals as well, bringing in a revenue stream for gamers that was once thought impossible.

Many of our parents told us otherwise, but Nasser is proving to the masses that you can make money and make a living playing video games.

Be sure to check out the full Talkin’ Blazers Podcast with host NBA Champion Channing Frye and Emmy Award winner Dan Sheldon.

It's still early in the season, but Mama Im Dat Man already has his name firmly in the MVP conversation.

"Nidal has started the season be reminding everyone why he was named league MVP in 2019, "said Cameron McAlees, Blazer5 Operation Manager. "He continues to be a strong leader for Blazer5, not only with his stat line, but his personality and passion for the game.

Blazer5 returns to action on Wednesday, May 20 when they take on Knicks Gaming.

You can catch all the action on the NBA 2K League's Twitch and YouTube channels.

Blazer5 Gaming revamps, retools, & resets for championship run

Blazer5 Gaming revamps, retools, & resets for championship run

Over the first two seasons of the NBA 2K League, there has been no better team than Blazer5 Gaming.

Portland's eSports team was 12-2 in Season 1, the best record in the league, and they repeated as the No.1 seed in Season 2 after posting a 14-2 record.

However, all the regular-season success has failed to translate to the postseason, with Blazer5 being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs two seasons in a row.

Now, with a revamped lineup, Blazer5 once again has its sights set on a championship. "Expectation is always a championship," said starting point guard Nidal “Mama Im Dat Man” Nasser. "I just feel like we have so much talent on our team, if we don't win a championship it's wasted, to be honest."

But why did the regular season's best team stumble and fall in the postseason? Were they just not as good as we thought? Of course not, the ball just didn't bounce their way. However, Nasser says there may have been some other issues at hand.

I feel like the last two seasons we've had so many obstacles, not even on the game, more off the game. Solving problems off the game that we just couldn't solve, or dealing with personalities that we couldn't deal with. Stuff like that, whatever the case may be, and I think that took a big toll once the season went on." Nidal Nasser on postseason struggles.

In an attempt to fix those minor personality and chemistry issues, Blazer5 made some major changes. The squad completely revamped its roster, building around its Big Three of Mama Im Dat Man, Dayne "OneWildWalnut" Downey, and Andron "LavishPhenom" Thomas.

Added to that equation were Stanley "MaJes7ic" Lebron, Brandon “Hood” Caicedo, and Georgio “OOC Slim” Bonte - A trio of players that know how to score.

Hood was the leading scorer in Season 1, averaging nearly 30 points per contest for Cavs Legion. MaJes7ic averaged 10.3 points last season while shooting 53.9% from the field. While OOC Slim dropped 11.1 points per contest in his rookie season with Raptors Gaming.

Hood and MaJes7ic bring a nice wrinkle to the Blazer5 starting lineup. The two played together last season with Heat Check Gaming, and both are good friends with OneWildWalbut and Mama Im Dat Man. The relationship is something Nasser knows will benefit the team.

Majes7ic, I’ve known him countless years. That’s been a really close friend of mine, I consider him a brother. Same with Hood. So when we got those two guys we finally felt like this five is a group that not only that we can dominate with, but we can speak our mind to and that’s a huge thing that people don’t understand. If players are holding in their emotions during the game or in practice, you’re never gonna excel. You’re never gonna get to that next level. That was our downfall the last two years. - Nidal Nasser

But don't sleep on OOC Slim. While he may not have the same relationship with the guys that Hood or MaJes7ic does, he is still a perfect addition to play the sixth-man role for the team.

"Adding Slim… he knows what B5 is all about," said Nasser. "He’s adjusted seamlessly, giving us input day in and day out. I appreciate all those guys. We’re putting in the work this year and we’re gonna make it happen."

If Blazer5 does make it happen, they won't do it without a captain behind the wheel.

For the past two seasons, Blazer5 didn't have a true head coach. Instead, the six guys just relied on each other to get the job done. While it had success, it still felt like something was missing.

Enter Andrew Maxie. Back in January, Blazer5 announced the hiring of the first coach in team history. Maxie, a former college basketball player who won MAC Conference MVP at Eastfield College and NAIA All-American at Lindenwood-Belleville University, gives the team someone to rely on to make those key crunch time decisions.

"I wasn’t fond of a coach Season 1 and Season 2, I felt like I could take that load. That’s just the person I am, I wanna lead from the front," said Nasser.

But having a true coach allows Nasser to focus on his game, while Maxie worries about the Xs and Os.

When we got Andrew (Maxie), he’s been a big help. We’re talking advanced stats. We’re talking scouting. In the Lakers game he put out a gameplan knowing what they like to do in shot clock situations, what they like to do when he goes left and right… Majes7ic was just telling me that one of the big stops, key stops in the game around the fourth quarter, he had Andrew in his head when he was reading the script. This is what he does. Right when he made the move, he plucked him and took it for two… Stuff like that. Priceless. - Nidal Nasser on the hiring of Andrew Maxie

Early in Season 3, the new additions have already looked like game-changers. Blazer5 is 2-0 and hasn't even worked out all the kinks yet.

Once they do, the league will certainly take notice... or maybe they would be wise to just start paying attention now.

Blazer5 returns to action on May 20 when they take on Knicks Gaming.

You can catch all the action on the NBA 2K League's Twitch and YouTube channels.

During the very first league draft, Blazer5 Gaming used the 29th overall pick to select Nidal "Mama Im Dat Man" Nasser to run the point on the virtual hardwood. Two seasons later, Mama Im Dat Man was named NBA 2K League Most Valuable Player.

He may have earned MVP honors after just two seasons in the league, but the road to get there actually began a decade earlier.

"I started playing video games probably when I was eight or nine. I started on the PS2 and all I would play was Madden and Call of Duty. I would play those things day and night. I wouldn't care. That's what I played," said Nasser.

While those two tried and true titles were the go-to for Nasser, one special game made him make the transition to the virtual hardwood.

"It got to a point when 2K10 came out, I believe Kobe was on the cover, when I made that transition to 2k. I was always in love with basketball, played my whole life, so that is what I fell in love with."

This story to this point sounds relatable. Many of us, myself included, have spent many hours in front of the TV with a console controller in our hands. Whether it was the PS2 like Nasser, or the Super Nintendo like myself, we all remember our first experience with video games.

But, while millions of people play video games for fun, only a select few are good enough to say they play them professionally. Nasser is one of them.

When I started playing, I was just playing casually, just having a good time. Then I started playing with my friends. When I started playing with my friends, I used to beat them by 20, 30, and 40, it got to the point where they would look at me like, 'Bro, are you being serious right now? This is crazy. You're much better than everybody else and it's not even close.' So I used to play small money matches for $10 here, $15, $20, versus people at my school or just people that I knew would want to play me because they knew I was good. So that's where it kicked off. As the years passed, I played more and more competitively and it got to this point. - Nidal Nasser on his road to the 2K League

Here's the thing, as with any sport, there is always someone who thinks they can do it too. We all know that one person who thinks if they got 15 minutes a night they could average 10 points and hit threes with ease in the NBA. That one person who thinks they could thow a 99mph fastball and get a few base hits in MLB. That one person who watches an NFL player drop a pass and says out loud, "put me out there, I would have caught that!"

Well, no. No, you can't. Even the worst professional athlete is leaps and bounds above the average Joe, but that won't silence the naysayers.

eSports are no different.

Millions of people play these video games online, and a lot of them think they should be on top of the mountain. They question why Player A was able to make it in the league while they sit at home.

"I see it a lot," said Nasser. "People be like, 'Oh, why is he in there? I should be in there. The league is a fluke. He's only in there because he knows people. He has connections,' all the good stuff."

Even Nasser, the reigning MVP, heard it a time or two on his way up. "I'm not gonna lie. In the beginning... I saw it a lot towards me. Now, in general, now that I've won MVP and I've kinda established myself, I don't really get that anymore. Almost never..."

Nasser's skills have more than done the talking for him, but he still has something to say to those that try to bring him or anyone else in the league down:

My thing to them is that there's so many outlets for you to get your name out there. There's so many outlets for you to perform and show who you are. And people don't want to take the time out of their day to do it. It's just like any other job. You have to put the hours in. You're not just gonna come in and be like, 'Oh, I'm here. Now I'm gonna get drafted because..." and make B.S. excuses. Are you gonna do that for a real job? No. So why would you do it for the NBA 2K League, which is kind of like a blessing, to be honest. You're playing video games for money! So, you gotta put that extra work in. - Nidal Nasser

Those people that believe they should have a spot in the league could have their chance sooner, rather than later. The NBA 2K league started with just 17 teams, but entered Season 3 with 23. One of those teams is the Gen.G Tigers of Shanghai, the only team not affiliated with an NBA team. This means that as the league expands they could have more than just the 30 NBA team affiliates.

The league could continue to expand in the future, and Nasser sees it having a global impact.

"I hope it blows up, I really do," said Nasser. "The fact that we've gotten up to this point, I didn't even believe, and now my expectations are out the roof... I feel like we can only get better. I feel like the broadcast can get better. I feel like when trash-talking really is implemented when we go back to the stage, I feel like that's when people are really gonna dive into it."

If you do decide to dive into this league, you will realize it's more than just a video game. It's entertainment. Just like you watch your favorite reality TV show because of the personalities, or you watch your favorite movies because you fall in love with certain characters, you do the same with eSports.

Some people have that thought process of, 'It's just video games. I can't get into it.' But then they're going to watch a drama series that is completely scripted. Just give it a shot. If you give it a shot you might like it. You might like a personality like me, like Walnut, like Brandon, doesn't matter who it is. Once you fall in love with somebody, once you just like their personality and just enjoy watching them, you're gonna tune back in. - Nidal Nasser on the NBA 2K League

Nasser has built off of last season's MVP season, averaging 30 points per game this season and leading Blazer5 to an undefeated record. Can they remain undefeated? You can find out for yourself next Wednesday when Blazer5 Gaming returns to the virtual court to take on Knicks Gaming.

If you haven't seen Mama Im Dat Man do his thing, now is the perfect time to take the dive and see the entertaining league for yourself.

You can catch all the action on the NBA 2K League's Twitch and YouTube channels.

Blazer5 Gaming comes out strong in first action of Season 3

Blazer5 Gaming comes out strong in first action of Season 3

Portland's very own Blazer5 Gaming is off to a hot start in Season 3 of the NBA 2K League starting the new season 1-0... but it took three games to get there.

Portland is 1-0 in the record books, but it took a 2-1 series win over Pacers Gaming to make it happen.

During Season 3 remote play, each team is scheduled to play matches that will count toward the team's regular-season record. Here's the twist: Each "match" will be a best of three series between two clubs.

Winning the three-game series will count as one season win. Losing the three-game series will count as one season loss. It's just a simple way to get more games played and plenty of exposure for the 2K League.

So, Blazer5 started the season 1-0 by beating Pacers Gaming 2-1 in a best of three series. Make sense? Sure it does. So how did it all go down?

Blazer5 lost Game 1 after leading most of the way. However, Pacers Gaming outscored Blazer5 20-12 in the fourth quarter to pick up the 70-66 win.

Game 2 started like Game 1 ended, with Pacers Gaming on fire and Blazer5 ice cold. At the end of the first quarter, Pacers Gaming had the 19-8 lead.

But, lucky for Blazer5, they have the only two MVPs in league history in Dayne "OneWildWalnut" Downey and Nidal “Mama Im Dat Man” Nasser.

The superstar duo wasn't about to let their squad start the season on a sour note. The two caught fire, and behind a 24-12 fourth quarter, Blazer5 picked up the 67-54 victory to force a deciding Game 3.

Game 3 was all Blazer5 to start, with Portland's squad opening the game on a 13-0 run. Pacers Gaming had it cut to a one-point game by the end of the third quarter, but another fourth-quarter run sealed the deal for Blazer5 as they capped off a 79-69 victory.

The 2-1 series victory gives Blazer5 a 1-0 record to start the season... and it was thanks in large part to their dynamic duo.

Over the last two games, OneWildWalnut totaled 34 points 32 rebounds, 7 steals, and 5 blocks. As for Mama Im Dat Man, the league's reigning MVP scored 38 points in Game 3 alone. He also led the team with 25 points in Game 2.

There are still some kinks to work out, as the team continues to get used to playing with the newly acquired Brandon “Hood” Caicedo, Stanley "MaJes7ic" Lebron, Georgio “OOC Slim” Bonte, and new head coach Andrew Maxie. Butt regardless of the things that need to ironed out, Blazer5 made one thing clear - The winningest team in NBA 2K League regular season history is here and ready to climb the mountain.

Can they start the season 2-0? Find out on Thursday when Blazer5 Gaming takes on Lakers Gaming. Tipoff is set for 6pm on the NBA 2K League's Twitch and YouTube channels.

Blazer5 Gaming set to tip-off Season 3 against Pacers Gaming

Blazer5 Gaming set to tip-off Season 3 against Pacers Gaming

Over the first two seasons of the NBA 2K League, no team has been better in regular-season than Blazer5 Gaming.

Blazer5 tore the league up in its inaugural season, posting a 12-2 record behind league MVP Dayne "OneWildWalnut" Downey. However, it came crashing down in a first-round playoff upset to Knicks Gaming.

In season two, Blazer5 five was back for revenge. They stumbled on Week 1, losing their first match-up, but rebounded with a league-record 14-game winning streak. Behind league MVP Nidal “Mama Im Dat Man” Nasser, Blazer5 posted a 14-2 record and were once again the No.1 seed heading into the playoff. Unfortunately, history repeated itself as Blazer5 was eliminated in the first round.

Two consecutive seasons of coming up short forced Blazer5 to reboot.

The team moved some pieces around and added Stanley "MaJes7ic" Lebron, Brandon “Hood” Caicedo, and Georgio “OOC Slim” Bonte to the squad, as well as hiring Andrew Maxie as head coach.

Revamped with shooters and a ton chemistry (All the additions are players Mama Im Dat Man and OneWildWalnut are close with) Blazer5 is finally ready to get over the hurdle that is the first round of the playoffs.

But a run at redemption starts with Game 1, which happens Tuesday night against Pacers Gaming.

Like Blazer5, Pacers Gaming revamped over the offseason added four new players to the equation. One of the players was Jomar "Jomar-12PR" Varela-Escapa. If that name sounds familiar, it should. Jomar-12PR was drafted by Blazer5 in the inaugural draft and spent the last two seasons with the squad. With Blazer5, Jomar-12PR was the sixth-man, but he will have a chance to shine with Pacers Gaming. There may not be anyone around the league that knows Blazer5 as well as Jomar-12PR, added a unique wrinkle to tonight's match-up.

The game within the game in this one will be in the paint where OneWildWalnut takes on WoLf. Says Harris Rubenstein of the NBA 2K League, "Alongside (Mama Im Dat Man) is Season 1 MVP OneWildWalnut who gets to match up with WoLF, playing Center for the first time in his NBA 2K League career. WoLF already went up against HotShot so Walnut isn’t the first elite Center he’s playing, but this will be the clash that defines the match up. If WoLF can hold off Walnut and dominate the paint, Pacers Gaming could pull off the upset."

Win or lose, all eyes will be on Blazer5 and their new additions tonight.

The core three of Mama Im Dat Man, OneWildWalnut, and Andron "LavishPhenom" Thomas has been a force since day one, but how will the new players fit in? Let's take a look:

Brandon “Hood” Caicedo: Hood was the leading scorer in Season 1, averaging nearly 30 points per contest for Cavs Legions, but was traded to T-Wolves Gaming that offseason. A midseason trade landed him with Heat Check Gaming, but the team did not protect him heading into the draft and Blazer5 swooped him up. He may be on this fourth team in three seasons, but there is little doubt that Hood is an incredibly talented player. His scoring ability next to MamaImDatMan's passing skill makes for a lethal PG-SG combo.

I can’t explain what I feel. Been dreaming about this since SZN 1 and we finally made it happen, I appreciate all of you at @blazer5gaming for believing in me. Now LETS WORK MY BROTHERS pic.twitter.com/tF4MmBPYbO

Stanley "MaJes7ic" Lebron: Majes7ic averaged 10.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game last season with Heat Check Gaming. His skill-set matches well with fellow big man OneWildWalnut, and though he doesn't need to score to make an impact, the team can rely on him when needed. It's also a plus that he played with Hood last season. Chemistry is key.

Georgio “OOC Slim” Bonte: OOC Slim averaged 7.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.7 steals per game last year for Raptors Uprising GC. 2019 was his first year in the league and now he finds himself on his second team in as many years, but that's not a bad thing. OOC Slim is another solid player that just knows how to shoot that ball at a high clip. Like Hood, he is a great fit alongside the PG skills of Mama Im Dat Man, and gives the team great depth to work with.

Can the new squad put it all together? We'll find out tonight at 6:00pm. You can watch the action live on ESPN, Twitch, and YouTube.

- Games will begin at 7 p.m. ET every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with four distinct matchups each night.

- Each team is scheduled to play at least eight matches that will count toward its regular-season record

- Games simulcast live on the NBA 2K League’s Twitch and YouTube channels.

- The 2020 season will once again include three in-season tournaments - THE TIPOFF, THE TURN and THE TICKET

- The NBA 2K League will implement an innovative production model that allows for a remote broadcast in all 23 team markets and NBA 2K League broadcasters to announce games in their homes from a virtual NBA 2K League Studio while switching between games occurring at the same time.

We are very excited to get the 2020 NBA 2K League season started. Blazer5 has something to prove this season on the court, and we hope the competition provides entertainment and allows for a feeling of community and connection during these unprecedented times. - Cameron McAlees, Blazer5 Operations Manager.

The first week will take place from May 5 through May 8, while the Blazer5 game schedule will be released at a later date.